Purpose – This research seeks to examine the influence of absorptive capacity and learning motivation in the process of knowledge acquisition in students of higher education institutions and subsequently evaluate its effect on the transfer of knowledge in the companies where students work, and the possible moderating effect of students' social skills and the level of work autonomy.

Design/methodology/approach - The research design is non-experimental, cross-sectional correlational-causal, with a quantitative
approach and the data collected are from primary sources. The variables autonomy and social skills are used on the perceptions of students in continuing education in programs related to third or fourth level business and administration careers in universities in Ecuador.

Findings – With the results obtained, it can be concluded that knowledge absorption capacity and learning motivation, as reflective constructs, have a significant effect on knowledge acquisition, as well as knowledge acquisition has a significant effect on transfer of knowledge, in part-time students, of the administrative area, studying in higher education institutions in Ecuador
and working full time.

Originality/value - This study identifies the significant relationship between the variables of job autonomy and social skills and between the acquisition and transfer of knowledge. In addition, it is evident that the variables of job autonomy and social skills are significantly related.